I have often talked about my Papa on my blog and how much influence he has had on my life.
One big influence was how much he loved to create things and use his hands.
He was always doing something, painting, reworking things, making things for my brother and I whether it be a scooter, a t-ball tee, a picture made with felt, a canopy for my bed or simply just fiddling away in his workroom on his workbench filled with anything and everything you can possible imagine.
(I like to think he was the MacGyver of his time, which he also LOVED to watch)
It wasn't until later in his life, not exactly sure when, but he started to carve birds and ducks.
He LOVED birds and ducks and he could name almost all of them and if he didn't know, he had books and books that would tell him.
It was something that he started before my grandma passed and something that kept him going after.
He taught us to appreciate wildlife and the outdoors, a bug that has really bitten my brother most of all.
Anyway, I wanted to show you some of his carvings that either my mom, my brother or I have in our homes. After he passed some of them were given to loved ones and some to a Senior Citizen Center where he would go from time to time and these were the ones that we kept.
As you scroll through, keep in mind that he carved all of these from blocks of wood using hand tools, not power tools. He would then use a burning tool to create detail in feathers and some he painted, some stained.
He would work hours and hours on these and enjoy every second.
There are a quite a few photos, so relax and enjoy. :)
"Red Tail Hawk"
He created the bases for them by replicating natural surroundings using real and artificial materials.
(He did not carve the bases)
You can see the details in the feathers from the wood burning tool.
This is a chickadee or wren, can't remember.
He is a bit beat up through the years and you will notice an unfortunate theme with them,
cat bite marks and chewed up areas.
Not sure what it is with cats and wood.
"Hummingbird"
He did carve the flower are well.
"Sand Piper"
He carved the feet for the Sand Piper and glued the pieces together.
"Pin-Tailed Duck"
You can really see the detail on him.
"Loon"
He had to stop carving a few years before he passed due to some medical issues but I will never forget him working on these beautiful birds and how happy he was and proud of them he was, as he should be, if I may say so. :)
I am pretty positive I could never do this but I am happy to know that part of his creative ability lives in my heart and soul and the desire to work with my hands will never fade because of him.
Thank you so much for letting me share these with you.
Hugs!
Posts
